I know you weren't yourself but ...

...How was it his fault?

Tseng had managed to get himself propped up in bed, laptop resting on top of his legs. Even with Aeris's skills, his knee was starting to ache badly again. He considered taking some more painkillers, but after the last few days, he wanted a clear head, even if he knew the pain was making him touchy. Elena's accusations weren't helping - he really didn't have the patience to try and sort the mess out this morning.

Tseng looked up from the screen at the intruder. He forced himself to not glare or roll his eyes - either would probably set her off again. "Opinions change when you have to deal with someone all the time, I suppose." There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.

Sheska arrived clutching a box containing two dozen chocolate chip cookies and a dozen peanut butter ones as well as a tote bag which might have been mistaken for being full of bricks, had anyone tried to steal it from her. It contained two large volumes of Earth fairy tales (fairly new additions to her collection), a volume of strictly Xingese fairy tales (a long time member but well cared for) and a book or box shaped object wrapped in brown paper with "For Tseng from Sheska" written across one corner in her precise hand.

The cookies went to Aeris with a well-meant but breathless and anxious thank you for letting her stay the night the other evening, and she dashed upstairs as soon as the other woman told her which room was Tseng's. Once there, however, she hesitated, straightened her work clothes since she hadn't bothered to change, and knocked lightly on the door.

Sheska opened the door carefully, peeking in to make sure she wasn't really intruding, and blinked in surprise. She tried to remember a time when she'd ever seen him this casual and failed. But that was quickly overwhelmed by her concern and she entered, leaving the door ajar. Goodness knows what the rest of the house would have thought if they were closeted in there together. "Um, I brought you the books..." she said, holding the tote out as evidence as she gingerly approached the bed. He'd never made a cheerful invalid, and this time was worse, in some ways, she understood. In order to forestall questions, she pulled out the wrapped package. "I thought I'd leave this for you, if you were sleeping, but... This is for you." She held it out, hoping she wasn't quite as pink as she felt.

The hug took her by surprise, but she bent down and returned it with all the warmth she could. "Don't push yourself too hard, too fast, Xiaowen. Let Aeris help you, and don't get up unless she says it's all right, ok?"

She wrinkled her nose cheerfully at him. "I'll try. It's difficult not to worry when it's someone I care about. But I just keep reminding myself that you'll be healthy and hale again in far shorter a time than were you in my world. I wish Sparda-sama would get to teaching me the healing spell he demonstrated for me, though."